Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-13
rmE Lron.rAmERs DEATH.
The Surgeons Exonerafcd-Profes-
scr Pancoast's Testimony.
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Professor Pancoast was visibly al
fected as he related 10 the coroners
iury Yesterday the circumstances At
tending the sad death OF Stanley Carl,
tic lion-tamor and trimmer, thirty years,
OF g27 Race street, at the Medico-Cm-
turqical Hospital on Wednesday.
The man had received an injury to
one OF Lis hands during q scufiie with
a co.ored man at the Dime Museum,
where be was employed several weeks
ago. aud went TO the hospital TO have
lie wounded member operated upon:
Professor Pancoast said that he had
taken strong personal interest in the
man. He was sturdy, brave, frank
,uoken fellow. He had been under
treatment, and had been informed he
must sacrifice one Of the knuckles OF
the night hand. A few days $50 he
visited Professor Pnncoast and sad:
doctor. would rather die than lose
my right hand"
"My heart was touched" continued
,hG.Uifuess. land ! offered tn do what
/ Gould for him without charge. 1
found that the hand was without mo-
ton. and, knowing what brave fellow
he was and how he could endure pain,
| epdeavored to break the adhesiOns oi
the tendons 80 as 10 restore motion.
Strong rs he was he could not bear the
pain. and had to desist and resort to
an aD@sthetic.
The witnessexplained that hismethod
Of using anesthetics was one which WAS
endorsed by two distinguished bodies
of medical experts in Paris. The death
If Carl was the most remarkable exp5-
rience that the witness had had IN
practice extending over thirty-fonr
years. "My early training, " continued
| the Professor, "was in the direction OF
Corning fully the uses, effects, and ap-
plication of annsthetics. The death OF
| Carl il very painful occurrence
doubly painful to me"
ProfcssorPancoast then described the
operation. lie said that every precau-
ion had been taken to insure the saIety
If the operation. Carl was placed on
| his back and made TO extend his hands
upwards at full length. Half a tea
spoon Of chloroform was applied to Il
towel, and the witness took hold OF the
Injured hand. The patient cried out IN
agony and asked for more OF
.he auasthetic. Not more than
two toaspoonluls in all were given
hin. and then the witness be-
Gan the operation. The hands re-
NAMED extended, the legs moved, and
there w9s every evidence of vitality.
ST the conclusion of the operation the
| witness looked at the patient and found
| that his face was liyid and there was a
great difference in breathing. OBJ
serving that there was something wrong,
remedies for resuscitation were tried.
When the legs were raised the face be-
came more congested The symptoms
were not those Of a man dying from
| The effects of chloroform. In cOnclu-
sion the Professor said: "The case Is
wonderful and / have never seen any
| thing ike it. "
DR.. Stubbs. one Of the professors Of
| the college, testified that in twenty-four
| vea1s' practice he had never seen a death
| ike tlfit Of Carl from either chlorofOrm
OF ether. Efforts to resuscitato the pa
| sent were utterly Intellectual, even 10
| he tapping of the jugular, which was
lone to allow the discharge Of blood
which vas surcharged with carbonic
end, resulting from the use Of chloro-
| form. During the operation the patient
| showed every indication of vitality.
Ir. Formal, coroner's physician,
testified that death was due to paralysis
of the heart, FASTENED 10y the action Of
chloroform. There was evidence of la
tent heart-disease and chronic affec-
ton Of the kidneys. The jury rendered
a verdict in accordance with the facts,
and exonorated the surgeons from all
blame. To this Professor Pancoast re-
marked: a very Just verdict, gentle
men, and 1 thank you. Noone canfeel
this more than ] do"